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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. lie — to recline
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. dip — to sink
  9. lean — to bend
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. sharp — clever
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. bank — of a river
  19. ball — a dance
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. bank — for money
  22. ball — a great time
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. lean — thin

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com